Alright guys,

First time poster here but I've got to ask about this particular guitar.

Looks legit, guy has the paperwork and serial number (V056197), but one thing completely confused me: look at the headstock here.



I've never seen a Fender without the walnut trussrod cover, so that's a bit odd. Otherwise, guitar looks completely legit:







So, can anyone tell me a bit about this guitar before I bite the bullet? Is it real or a fake?

Hi pokejj,

Looks like a Custom Shop (CS) Strat with a painted headstock. The serial number is consistent with a CS or vintage reissue, and the mark on the back of the headstock also indicates a CS. I would expect a certificate with a CS guitar, and markings under the pick guard could further verify the body. The paint on the headstock would cover the plug, so that is why you can't see it. It looks legit to me.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

There's no walnut stripe on the back, so it's probably adjusted at the heel. Like the sixties strats the truss rod was placed in and the rosewood board on top of that, so no walnut plug or walnut strip.

On a vintage or re-issue Strat with the rosewood fretboard, there is no walnut plug visible.

The guitar appears to be 100% legitimate.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Awesome, that checks out with the paperwork saying it's a 1962 reissue. I'm a bit of a Strat newb so I apologize, haha. Yeah, I was wondering about the walnut stripe, was a bit surprised of the lack of it.

The screw configuration of the pickguard tells me that it's an incorrect replacement for a '62-era instrument......



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Replacement pickguard, maybe? Anyways, here's the document he sent me. It's a local music store, so it definitely seems legitimate. I fired off an e-mail to them and to Fender as well to get some info about the guitar.

Ask them to remove the pickguard then inspect the body beneath it for tell-tale signs that an extra hole has been drilled for that non-standard pickguard. You'll be looking for an unused hole between the neck and middle pickup on the left (bass string) side of the body.

HTH

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Thanks Arjay. What should the original pattern be? 8 screws?

Regards,
Jake

No, it will be an 11-screw pattern, with the configuration thus......



Note the position of the hole above and between the neck and middle pickup, then contrast that with what's on the guitar in your initial post. This is one of the hallmarks of the '59 through early '64 Stratocasters.

HTH

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Good eye, also it doesn't have the notch on the pick guard where the truss rod is.

Something's a miss.......

You can also ask Mike Eldred the head of the Custom Shop here;
viewforum.php?f=22

Cool, thanks. I'll definitely do that. I'll let you guys know if it's legit soon I guess

Its fake The s/n is not a custome shop s/n. The V is a vintage RI number. It should start with an R.

+1

But I think it's simply a case of an innocent pickguard swap.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY